As Darin slowly walked back to the fire she found her thoughts drifting backwards though time again. This time they were about the person she could see at the fire. Ridahne Torenzi Seed-Chained had changed just as much as she had over the past year, if not more. She was still subdued and wary, but it was so nice to know that the warrior considered the human family. Darin had learned so much from her; sailing songs, how to build sandcastles, how to swim on the waves of salt water, how to build fires that would last all night, how to defend herself. Darin could only hope to return the favor one day. Even though the coming days promised to be stressful Darin had never seen Ridahne freer, mentally and emotionally, then the last few weeks.

Darin may have been lost in thought, but she still heard the tone of Ridahne’s voice. Without thinking she quickly hurried over to stand behind the warrior. Her hand reached behind her to hold on to the handle of her sickle, but unlike Ridahne she didn’t draw it immediately. Talbot stood nearby. Sometimes it was better for Darin to flee and sometimes it was better for her to fight. She wasn’t sure which one it was yet. Though the next few minutes revealed that their would be no fight at all and Darin couldn’t help the large smile that etched on to her face as the identity of the person who had come to see them was made clear.

It was Hadian Torenzi. While Darin had never seen him with her own eyes before she had seen him once via The Tree on that night so long ago when The Tree had spoken to Ridahne and she had been left to wander Astra. Even if she hadn’t gone on that journey the human would still know who it was, not only buy Ridahne’s actions but by his looks as well. He was so clearly Ridahne’s sibling even if his Oijh was simpler and there were more lines on his face, but he was still her family. Seeing her Ridahne so happy made Darin want to laugh from pure joy.

For a moment her smile faltered as he started to bow Luckily Ridahne stopped him, but the hug that followed caught her completely off guard. She could barely remember the last time she had been hugged like this. Hugging Ridahne was nice and Darin lost count of how many times that had happened, but those always seemed desperate as they each searched for confirmation that the other was alive and well and safe. This was tight and firm and loving. For a reasons Darin couldn’t explain it felt like coming home. She quickly got a hold of herself and returned the hug in kind. Hadian may have been a stranger to her, but she could easily see herself falling in love with him the same way she had fallen in love with Ridahne, not the same way Ridahne loved Ajoran, or the way her mother loved her father, or the way that she thought Thomas and Milla might love each other, but still love, like family, like home, like peace.

She couldn’t contain herself any longer and she started to laugh as she finally pulled away, “Hadian Torenzi! It is so [i[good[/i] to meet you at last. I have heard nothing but good things.” Her cheeks hurt from how widely she was smiling, “I am Darin, daughter of Martin by Talia, Seed-Bearer of Astra.” She took his hand and pulled him close to the fire so they could all sit, “Come, sit. Tell me of Azurei. My Guardian.” Darin flashed Ridahne a gleeful look as she reached out to lightly touch the mark that confused the newcomer, “Has told me some but I [i]love[/i] hearing of new places from many different people. Tell me of your life, your family, your work. Your sister tells me you are a fisherman. What is that like? You’ll have to teach me the basics at some point.”

Darin’s full attention was on the man in front of her with an intensity that she hadn’t known she could possess a year ago. Yet it had come to the surface more and more as the days had passed. Hadain was not the first person to be on the other end of Darin’s piercing gaze as she sought to learn and to know. She would practically hang of his every word as she asked question after question. She was no longer afraid that he questions would make her look like a fool. Being a fool was the first step to wisdom after all. She could be a bit intense and she hoped she didn’t make him uncomfortable. It’s just this was Ridahne’s family. She wanted to know him not just because he was a Child of Astra, but because he was the family of one of her favorite people in the whole world. Tonight promised to be one of those sleepless night that no one could regret because they were well spent.